Left vs. Right

Which Side Are You On?

In general the left and right hemispheres of your brain process
information in different ways. We tend to process information using our dominant
side. However, the learning process is enhanced when all of
our senses are used. This includes using
your less dominate hemisphere. Listed below are information
processing styles that are characteristically used by your right or left brain.
Read the information below to help you understand how your
brain processes information. Pay attention to your less dominant style so that
you can learn how to improve it. If you want to jump through the list, click on
the choice that you wish to examine.

The left side of the brain processes information in a linear
manner. It process from part to whole. It takes pieces, lines them up, and
arranges them in a logical order; then it draws conclusions. The right brain,
however, processes from whole to part, holistically. It starts with the answer.
It sees the big picture first, not the details. If you are right-brained, you
may have difficulty following a lecture unless you are given the big picture
first. Do you now see why it is absolutely necessary for a right-brained person
to read an assigned chapter or background information before a lecture or to
survey a chapter before reading? If an instructor doesn't consistently give an
overview before he or she begins a lecture, you may need to ask at the end of
class what the next lecture will be and how you can prepare for it. If you are
predominantly right-brained, you may also have trouble outlining (you've
probably written many papers first and outlined them latter because an outline
was required). You're the student who needs to know why you are doing something.
Left-brained students would do well to exercise their right-brain in such a
manner. [top of list]

In addition to thinking in a linear manner, the left brain
processes in sequence -- in order. The left-brained person is a list maker.
If you are left-brained, you would enjoy making a master schedule and doing
daily planning. You complete tasks in order and take pleasure in checking
them off when they are accomplished. Likewise, learning things in sequence
is relatively easy for you. For example, spelling involves sequencing;
if you are left-brained, you are probably a good speller. The left brain
is also at work in the linear and sequential processing of math and in
following directions.

By contrast, the approach of the right-brained student
is random. If you are right-brained, you may flit from one task to another.
You will get just as much done but perhaps without having addressed priorities.
An assignment may be late or incomplete, not because you weren't working,
but because you were working on something else. You were ready to rebel
when asked to make study schedules for the week. But because of the
random nature of your dominant side, you must make lists, and you must
make schedules. This may be your only hope for survival in college. You
should also make a special effort to read directions. Oh yes, the mention
of spelling makes you cringe. Use the dictionary, carry a Franklin speller, or
use the spell checker on your computer. Never turn in an assignment without
proofing for spelling. Because the right side of the brain is color sensitive,
you might try using colors to learn sequence, making the first step green,
the second blue, the last red. Or you may want to "walk" a sequence, either
by physically going from place to place or by imagining it. For the first
step of the sequence, you might walk to the front door; for the second,
to the kitchen; for the third, to the den, etc. Or make Step One a certain
place or thing in your dorm room or study place and Step Two another. If
you consistently use the same sequence, you will find that this strategy
is transferable to many tasks involving sequence.[top of list]

The left brain has no trouble processing symbols. Many academic
pursuits deal with symbols such as letters, words, and mathematical notations.
The left-brained person tends to be comfortable with linguistic and mathematical
endeavors. Left-brained students will probably just memorize vocabulary
words or math formulas. The right brain, on the other hand, wants things
to be concrete. The right-brained person wants to see, feel, or touch the
real object. Right-brained students may have had trouble learning to read
using phonics. They prefer to see words in context and to see how the formula
works. To use your right brain, create opportunities for hands-on activities.
Use something real whenever possible. You may also want to draw out a math
problem or illustrate your notes.[top of list]

The left brain processes in a linear, sequential, logical
manner. When you process on the left side, you use information piece by
piece to solve a math problem or work out a science experiment. When you
read and listen, you look for the pieces so that you can draw logical conclusions.
Your decisions are made on logic--proof. If you process primarily on the
right side of the brain, you use intuition. You may know the right answer
to a math problem but not be sure how you got it. You may have to start
with the answer and work backwards. On a quiz, you have a gut feeling as
to which answers are correct, and you are usually right. In writing, it
is the left brain that pays attention to mechanics such as spelling, agreement,
and punctuation. But the right side pays attention to coherence and meaning;
that is, your right brain tells you it "feels" right. Your decisions will
be based on feelings.[top of list]

Left-brained students have little trouble expressing themselves
in words. Right-brained students may know what they mean but often have
trouble finding the right words. The best illustration of this is to listen
to people give directions. The left-brained person will say something like
"From here, go west three blocks and turn north on Vine Street. Go three
or four miles and then turn east onto Broad Street." The right-brained
person will sound something like this: "Turn right (pointing right) by
the church over there (pointing again). Then you will pass a McDonalds
and a Walmart. At the next light, turn right toward the BP station." So
how is this relevant to planning study strategies? Right-brained students
need to back up everything visually. If it's not written down, they probably
won't remember it. And it would be even better for right-brained students
to illustrate it. They need to get into the habit of making a mental video
of things as they hear or read them. Right-brained students need to know
that it may take them longer to write a paper, and the paper may need more
revision before it says what they want it to say. This means allowing extra
time when a writing assignment is due.[top of list]

The left side of the brain deals with things the way they
are--with reality. When left-brained students are affected by the environment,
they usually adjust to it. Not so with right-brained students; they try
to change the environment! Left-brained people want to know the rules and
follow them. In fact, if there are no rules for situations, they will probably
make up rules to follow! Left-brained students know the consequences of
not turning in papers on time or of failing a test, but right-brained students
are sometimes not aware that there is anything wrong. So, if you are right-brained,
make sure you constantly ask for feedback and reality checks. It's too
late the day before finals to ask if you can do extra credit. Keep a careful
record of your assignments and tests. Visit with your professor routinely.
While this fantasy orientation may seem a disadvantage, in some cases it
is an advantage. The right-brained student is creative. In order to learn
about the digestive system, you may decide to become a piece of food! And
since emotion is processed on the right side of the brain, you will probably
remember well anything you become emotionally involved in as you are trying
to learn.

These are just some of the differences that exist between
the left and right hemispheres, but you can see a pattern. Because left-brained
strategies are the ones used most often in the classroom, right-brained
students sometimes feel inadequate. However, you now know that you can
be flexible and adapt material to the right side of your brain. Likewise,
those of you who are predominantly left-brained know that it would be wise
to use both sides of the brain and employ some right-brained strategies.[top of list]